106 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
at church. Going next to the rooms of a friend, Field found 
him shaving but induced him to come along to the financial 
district. They drove to Reuter’s telegraph agency and over- 
whelmed the attendant with demands for American news. 
Although the attendant was under orders not to divulge such 
early reports from Ireland and feared for his job if he did so, 
they promised to find him a better place if discharged. With 
his foot in the door, Field refused to move until he was satis- 
fied. The harassed attendant finally capitulated and an- 
nounced: ‘“There has been a three days’ fight at Gettysburg; 
Lee has retreated into Virginia; Vicksburg has fallen.” 
Smiling happily, the two hurried away. Field gave the glad 
tidings to Adams and others. He took particular delight in 
informing certain prophets who had been sure that the North- 
ern army could not stop Lee. Indications now were that the 
worst was over, but a letter dated July 15 told of the begin- 
ning of the draft riots in New York and there was more sus- 
pense. When Field finally heard that his family was safe, he 
breathed a sigh of relief. He had sorely needed the services of 
a cable. How many such cases must have occurred before 
cable service was established! 
His fears allayed, Field resumed his patriotic services to his 
country by acting as intermediary for a closer understanding 
between the statesmen of the United States and England. He 
had shown an informal letter addressed to himself from John 
Bright, to the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, 
who replied to Field at length. Field showed Chase’s letter to 
Gladstone. In this manner, he got these leading men ac- 
quainted with the informal views of one another without the 
pomposity and circumlocution of official communications. 
He believed that if the statesmen of each country understood 
the convictions, the difficulties, and the human qualities of 
the others, they would be less belligerent and more tolerant, 
and that diplomatic exchanges would be smoothed over. 
Chase’s letter of August 21, 1863, commenting upon that 
